Excellence on Ice: Alex Leslie Wins Elite Scholar-Athlete Award

Alex Leslie '28, though used to success both in the classroom and on the ice, did not expect her name to be called during the awards ceremony on the women's ice hockey team's Frozen Four road trip in Wisconsin.

Leslie earned the NCAA Elite Scholar-Athlete Award, which is given to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative undergraduate GPA at each championship site. Leslie, a biochemistry major, holds a 4.0 GPA — the highest among all the competitors in attendance.

"I was shocked, I didn't know I was going to be getting this award," said Leslie. "Then my parents came out, which was even more shocking."

The award recognizes more than academic excellence. It highlights the balance between success in the classroom and performance on the ice — a balance that reflects Norwich University's emphasis on discipline, structure, and commitment.

For Leslie, that balance is built on years of experience.

"Obviously, it's a lot of work. But I've been a student-athlete for my whole life, so I think I've learned how to manage my time," she says. "Our practices are scheduled around class times, so that helps make it a little bit easier."

Her achievement comes as Norwich prepares to compete in the NCAA Division III Women's Ice Hockey Frozen Four, where the Cadets will face Nazareth University. While the stage is one of the biggest in college hockey, Leslie says the support around her has been just as impactful as any game.

"It felt really good to have all that support from my team," she says. "We all work hard in school and on the ice. Their support today felt really good."

That sense of community is central to the Norwich ethos, where cadets and civilian students alike are expected to excel in multiple arenas at once. Leslie's recognition underscores that expectation, demonstrating how discipline in one area reinforces success in another.

Even amid the excitement of the Frozen Four, Leslie remains focused on the experience with her teammates.

"It's been such a fun experience. I know we just got started, but we've all been working so hard and getting so amped up," says Leslie. "It's kind of crazy that the game is tomorrow, but we're ready for it, and it's just been such a good experience with these girls."

Away from the rink, Leslie is already looking ahead to putting her education to use.

"I'm thinking — but I'm not exactly sure — that I want to work somewhere in a lab," she says. "I've been looking at forensic science, so I'm thinking about somewhere in that area."

For now, though, Leslie is taking in the moment — one shaped not only by her hard work, but by her community and support system.

"I just want to make sure that everyone knows that I just feel so grateful to have all the support from my family, friends, and coaches," she says. "That's really how all of this happens. I feel so grateful for their support."

As Norwich takes the ice on the national stage, Leslie's achievement stands as a reflection of the program's identity — one where academic and physical excellence are not separate pursuits, but part of the same mission.